Lighter



June 19, 1934. J. A. HANLEY ,l 1,963,490

LIGHTER Filed June. so, 195s INVENToR a'. i i

Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a lighter of the flameless type. The lighter includes a block or diskv of platinized material which glows under a heat caused by the influence of vapor of methyl alcohol or similar fluid. The catalytic action of the vapor on the disk of material used for lighting is only desired when the device is to be used in lighting.

In this particular form of lighter the lighting disc is shielded from the vapor. This is economical and also makes for a more perfect performance in that it prevents condensation on the disk which condensation takes place when the disk is constantly in the presence of the vapor. Such condensation from the vapor saturates the disk and prevents the operation of the lighter.

The object of this invention is to provide a lighter in which the disk or element is completely shielded from any contact with the vapor unless the user operates the lighter to allow such contact. This makes the lighter effective.

Another object of the invention is to allow .for adequate admission of air to the body of the lighter when the disk is in the presence of the 5 vapor and to shut off the air when the disk is shielded from the vapor.

A still further object is to provide a means for Ventilating the disk when. it is not in use for lighting in order to prevent condensation.

The invention also consists in certain details of construction which will be described in detail hereinafter and also embodied in some of the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Figure 1`is a longitudinal section of a lighter embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a similar view of-the top part of the lighter with the ignition disk in lighting position. Figure 3 is a topview of the lighter shown in Figure 1.

` Figure 4 is a central cross-section of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an end view of the lighter shown in Figure 1. Figure 6 is a top view and Figure 7 is a central section of a lighter of modified form.

Figure 8 is an end view of the lighter shown in Figure 7. I

The lighter comprises a casing 10 usually made of sheet metal which contains a mass 11 of felt, cotton or other suitable absorbent which is saturated with a liquid such as methyl alcohol which supplies a vapor that will cause, by catalytic action, a glow and a heating up of a mass of platinized material such as Iplatinum sponge.

The top of the casing is provided with a means for holding such disk or body of platinized material and with means for controlling the contact (Cpl. 67-7) and/or shielding of the disk with o r from the vapor. The piece of material to be heated is carried on a holder and the casing is provided with a part into which the material can be moved when not used for lighting purposes. In the form shown I move the disk in or out of position for lighting and contact. The disk is shown at 12 and itis placed in a slide 13 which has a suitable nger piece 14 for operating the slide. The slide is placed in a slideway formed between the top 15 05 of the casing and the horizontal partition 16 in the casing. The slide ts snugly in the space between the top and partition and can thus be isolated when not in use. The top and partition are provided with aligned noms 1.' and 1s with 70 which the disk 12 can beplaced in register when it is to be heated and used for lighting. A cigarette can be placed against the outer face of the `disk through the hole 17.

The hole 18 allows vapor to contact with a disk 75 that is over it. A screen 19 is preferably used forming a vapor chamber 20.

The drawing in Figure 1 shows the slide in what I will call the inoperative position, that is, with the disk 12 shielded from vapor and in Figure 2 80 the disk is shown in what I term its operative position ready for lighting.

The casing 10 and the slide 13 may have cooperative means for holding the slide in its two positions. I show the spring lip 21 with a projection 22 on its under side and two notches 23 and 24 to receive the projection to maintain the slide in either of its two positions.` f

The top 15 has a ventilation opening 25 in it. This is placed at a point where it will' be above the disk 12 when the slide isin inoperative position. This allows the vapor to pass out of the disk 12 to prevent condensation and thus keep the disk 12 dry.

Air openings are provided to allow air to enter 95 the casing and the illling ll'. These openings are uncovered when the disk is in contact with the vapor and are closed when the disk is covered. The construction shown employs the slide as a control means for the admission of air through these openings. The air openings 27 and 28 are preferably at the end of the cover or top 15 and the partition 16, respectively. They are shown asclosed in Figure 1 and uncovered 'in Figure 2.

It will be evident that when the lighter is not When the `lighter is to be used the slide is pulled out until the disk 12 is over the hole 18 and the vapor contacts with the disk 12 and heats it. A cigarette can then be lighted by placing it against the disk 12 through the hole 17. At the same time the slide 15 uncovers the air openings'27 and 28 which permits air to enter the casing and facilitate the passage of vapor from the filling to the disk 12. This will be clearly seen from Figure 2.

A modified form is shown in Figures 6 to 8. This structure is, in general, the same comprising the casing 10, the lling 1l, the cover 15 and the partition 16. There is, in addition, a plate v29 spaced from the partition 16 to form a vapor:

chamber 30. The plate 29 has perforations 31 in it. The slide is modified and isv shown at 32 with the finger piece 33 arranged with its neck 34 sliding in a slot 35. This form is compact in that the slide at no time projects beyond the dimensions of the casing. t l The top 15 may be part of a separate cover 36 with indentations 37 which snap into indentations 38 in the casing to form a tight closure. This allows access to the slide 'for'repair and facilitates installation ofthe disk 12.

The disk 12 maybe provided with azbeveled ,cir-` V cumference tting into undercut edges '39 ofthe hole inthe slide provided yfor the reception ofV the disk.H The slide is preferably made of `material oflow heaticonductivity for holding` the dimensions of the various parts without departing of invention.

lighter comprising a casing ,havirigan'Vv opening for `the outlet of Afuel vapor,V apiece off catalytic materiahajholder for the piece of, ma-

'the materialV is shielded cess, the holder also vhavingl apart to cover Athe .outlet when the material is in the recess, the cas- `that will cause it to be uncovered by the slide when in operative position and to be covered byl the slide when in inoperative position.

,3.A lighter comprising a. casing having a top and a partition spaced from the top to form a 'slide-way, a slide tting in the slide-way and containing apieceofcatalytic material for ignition purposes, the top and partition having holes for providing a fuel vapor outlet over which the slide extends whereby `the materialcan be alternatively `placed in thef outlet or' "'sliield`ed,.iny the slideway, the top h'avingwa ventilation opening" placed where' the materia1`- isflocated when vitis shieldedQ` e "74; A lighter taining a piece of catalytic material `for ignition y comprisingl la. casing `topl" and a partition spaced from` 'the 'top to formll'a.. slide-way, a slide fitting" in the slide-way 'and,con-fA purposes, the' top and partitionhavingtholes,for providing 'a' fuel vapor 'outlet over which thel slidel` extends `wherebyr thewmaterial can' be, alternatelvf`V placed in `the j'outletfor shielded in the;'slide-v(ay,V the top having 'a ventilation opening placed Wherev thegvmateriaijis ioeated when it jiszshieldfeaftiie j topl'and partitionfhaving ail" inlet openings lo-l cated in a position to 'be closed by the slide Ywhen materiai'is over the outlet.

' and opened. WhenQthe.

e t. e 55115 JOHNAUHANLEY. 

